The bounty system in One Piece is one of the impressive things to note about the Shonen anime. The anime presents a criminalized system orchestrated by the World Government & the Marines, involving placing bounties on notorious pirates to increase the chances of capturing them. Although the bounty system doesn't originate from One Piece, as the concept is based on real-world pirate history, Oda executes it masterfully.
In One Piece so far, fans have looked forward to the bounties of their favorite characters after each arc since it makes the series more interesting. However, Tony Tony Chopper, the ship doctor of the Straw Hats, is one of the characters that is cheated by the system regarding his actual bounty. Under normal circumstances, this should be a good thing as it cloaks the character's true capabilities; however, for One Piece fans, Chopper's true bounty is something to look forward to. As the Wano arc is about to end officially, will Chopper finally get the breakthrough he deserves?
Chopper – The Beloved Ship Doctor
Chopper is among the oldest members of the Straw Hats crew, and in critical situations, his medical skills have saved different characters in the series. Tony Tony Chopper sports the look of a reindeer but is often mistaken for a "raccoon" every single time. Most likely, this is one of the key factors behind his low bounty. Chopper joined the Straw Hats crew when Luffy visited Drum Island to find a cure for the injured Nami. Although he was mistaken for a raccoon, as usual, the blue-nosed creature assisted in Nami’s recuperation. After the whole saga, Nami tried recruiting Chopper into their crew, but he blatantly refused as humans had done hurtful to the people he treasured.
Chopper then changed his view on humans after Luffy, the antagonist of the story arc, Wapol – the murderer of Chopper’s mentor. Still, he was unmotivated to join the Straw Hats crew even after they gained his trust until he recalled Dr. Kureha's wishes – to learn more about medicine by traveling worldwide. Based on this memory, Chopper joined the Straw Hats crew to sail the Grand Line at that time in the story. So far, Chopper has been an indispensable asset to the Straw Hats, and considering his top-tier medical skills and his importance to the Straw Hats, he deserves a higher bounty.
Chopper’s Unfair Bounties
Chopper has one of the most unfair bounties in One Piece. The characters’ first acknowledged bounty was 50 berries. While the Straw Hats captain had a multi-million bounty placed on his head, Chopper’s bounty was astonishing and laughable. Most likely, Chopper’s bounty is one of the running gags in One Piece added to increase its comedic value. Still, the bounty can be considered unfair following the Straw Hat’s accomplishments as a pirate. Chopper ate a Zoan-type Devil Fruit: Hito Hito no Mi, which transformed him from a regular reindeer to a human hybrid.
In the early arcs of One Piece, Chopper was more of an unleashed weapon even his teammates couldn't control, especially after he consumes the Rumble Ball medicine. The Rumble Ball medicine acts as an enhancer that increases Chopper's size and strength immensely but at the cost of his sense of reason. After consuming this strength enhancement pill, Chopper becomes a walking Berserker (Fate Series), not knowing how to do anything but rampage. In the Enies Lobby Arc, Chopper played a huge role in destroying the better part of Enies lobby during the Straw Hats confrontation with the CP9. Chopper's powers were both a blessing and a curse until after the two-year time skip.
After deepening his knowledge of medicine, Chopper had more control over his Devil Fruit. At this point, even after consuming the Rumble Ball medicine, Chopper could operate with his sense of reason intact. This development allowed him to win important fights for the Straw Hats. Unfortunately, after Dressrossa Arc, Chopper’s bounty only increased to 100 berries and has remained at that point ever since. The major reason for Chopper’s low bounty is that he’s mistaken for the Straw Hats crew pet that loves candy. Until this misunderstanding is cleared up, Chopper’s bounty will remain low.
Will Chopper Get The Bounty He Deserves?
Chopper has played crucial roles, even in the Wano arc, acting as a doctor and saving lives within his reach. One of his major achievements in the arc is concocting a solution to Queen’s deadly attack that spread the oni virus in the systems of victims. Through keen observation, Chopper first spotted a temporary solution to the problem to prevent the further spread of the virus before producing a permanent cure. The Straw Hats' doctor's medical skills are unmatched, and he is not just some regular doctor. Chopper is also a key factor in the battle plans of the Straw Hats.
Chopper has done enough in Wano and throughout One Piece to earn himself a fair bounty above 300 million. So, if Oda decides to drop the gag featuring Chopper, his real worth will finally become evident in the pirate world. As the next One Piece chapter 1053, approaches, fans can anticipate the possible exponential increase in Chopper's bounty.